Way of Lights Christmas Display

Date: 11/19/2010 - 1/2/2011
Location: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Website: www.snows.org

A drive through scenic fantasy of over one million lights that wind past electro-art sculptures, life-size figures and displays that depict the Christmas Story. A Christmas village, choirs, a Christmas Tree display and horse-drawn carriage rides add to the festive

Children of all ages will delight in learning about the most special Christmas gift, Jesus, in this sparkling Lil' Angels' classroom filled with a variety of free, hands-on activities.

• Puppet Show is back by popular demand - You asked, we listened

Admission to the show: $3.00 per person
(Ages 4 & under free with paying adult)

Experience the story of the birth of Jesus through this amazing spectacle of light and sound. This unique laser show, written and produced specifically for the Way of Lights, will thrill visitors of all ages.

Music groups perform nightly in the visitors' center lobby.  

 Individuals, couples, or groups can take home a photo memory of their Way of Lights experience.  Visitors of all ages can choose a traditional Christmas background or don angel attire and have a picture taken amidst a shimmery cloud background for a minimal cost.

Decorators and designers from the St. Louis/Metro East display their best creations showcasing 'The Colors of Christmas'.

A variety of wreaths created by area florists and designers will be on display throughout the Visitors Center. Silent Auction bids will be taken throughout the season with proceeds assisting in the work of the Missionary Oblates.

         First let me say I am not a phone person. I don't call people to chat. This probably comes from my upbringing in a home of 8 people, and a neurotic father. My dad, the minute the phone would ring would yell "Don't be on long, there might be an emergency!"

 Thankfully, there never was, but in his mind it was because he was able to answer the call  should it come in.

          That having been said,I have been trying to have better communication with my Sellers,

       I'm not calling to chat, I am calling to let them know what the market looks like in their neighborhood, if I've gotten any feedback from agents on their home, and to plan with them on how WE can better market their home.

       In a way I'm like my dad...if I let you know what could go wrong, in my mind it probably won't , because we are prepared to answer that call.

        So, I'm learning not to be too positive, but not too negative either. Not a case of the glass half empty, or  half full. It is what it is, a little of both.  Not optimistic or pessimistic.     Try Realistic

A while ago I wrote a series of blogs about the "nicknames" that Buyers Agents give homes to remember them. One of the "nicknames I featured was a tongue in cheek look at The Rooster House.

Imagine my surprise when over a year later ...you guessed it... I went to a listing call and  came across my very own Rooster House . No way! 

If you know me, you know I am a feet on the ground girl. But, I have to admit even I wondered, since I had put this out to the universe... did I bring this very home into my life!

Lest you think I am kidding I will give you a chance to judge for yourself.

Very cute home, wonderful Seller. She fell into the trap a lot of collecters do. One day she picked up a rooster she liked, then, her kids thought "Oh good, now I know what to get mom for..." after that,for every birthday, Christmas,etc she got a new "friend."

Now, she has moved on. She no longer collects Roosters, but she has a lot of them for sale!

            St. Patrick's Day in St. Louis is a true celebration there are two parades. One of the parades is in Downtown St. Louis, the other is in Dogtown. Dogtown is an area in St Louis City the boundaries of which are hotly debated by some. After all we all want to be Irish on St Pat's and we all want to live in Dogtown if we are Irish!

            I am a Dogtown girl,so-of course I have a personal preference for the parade in Dogtown. The Dogtown parade is hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and it is always held on St. Patrick's Day March 17th. The parade traditionally begins at noon on Wells close to the zoo.

However this year (2009) it will begin at 11:30Am due to highway construction issues. Due to constuction on I-64 the parade route has been modified . Parade units will assemble on the North side of Oakland Avenue and on the east and West sides of Tamm. The units will travel South on Tamm past St. James and end at Lloyd Avenue

             If you get hungry after the parade  St. James the Greater Catholic Church holds their annual fund-raiser serving Corned Beef and Cabbage to the masses.

 Seamus McDaniel's at 1208 Tamm will serve a great meal for those hungry parade attendees. Or, you could stroll up to Pat's across from Turtle Park on 6400 Oakland (at Tamm)

HOURS:
Monday - Saturday
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Kitchen closes:  
Monday-Thursday at 10:30p.m.
Friday and Saturday at 11:00 p.m

        The  Annual Downtown Parade starts at Market and 18th streets and will travel Eastbound this year to its end at Broadway and Market. The parade begins at noon on March 14th "rain or shine" The route opens at 7:30am To see the parade route click this link:

St. Louis St. Patrick's Day Parade Route 

The Parade ends at the Irish Village in Kiener Plaza where you will find food and beverages from St. Louis restaurants, Irish specialties and merchandise for sale, family activities, and live music. The Irish Village is open before,during , and after the parade.

The Michelob Ultra St. Patrick's Day Run takes place at 9:00 am the day of the parade.  The five mile run will have over  7,000 participants. There are competitive and non-competitive categories.The Run begins at 9th & Market Streets, and finishes at 18th & Market Streets, after making a 5 mile loop through Downtown and Midtown.

The St. Louis' annual Irish celebration, the St. Patrick's Day Parade "Meet the Irish" Dinner, takes place at 6:00 PM on Friday, March 13, 2009, the night before the Parade, at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, in Downtown St. Louis. It is a formal evening of dinner and entertainment.

 St. Louis' annual Irish celebration, the St. Patrick's Day Parade Irish Dinner, takes place at 6:00 PM on Friday, March 13, 2009, the night before the Parade, at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, in Downtown St. Louis. It is a formal evening of dinner and entertainment.

Hey Friends!

 I want you all to stop by Dale's Blog She is a newbie from St. Louis.      

Out of a room full of people that attended my presentation on Social Media...she's the only one (so far) thats dipped her toes into the pool!  I'm so proud of her.  Her first Blog she blew it out of the park with a tongue-in-cheek look St. Louis driving. 

I know she has a lot to contribute to our community...so if you will pop in and say hello,

I promise you won't be sorry!

When I take Buyers around to view homes they often give the homes "pet" names. Thanks Gary, I needed a new term for it! 

                                                                  The first of these homes was the "stinky house"

The second "The cluttered house" 

And the  third "The Rooster House"  Thanks Elaine!

         This post is about the "old house". When I say old I don't necessarily mean the house is old. Older well maintained,and updated homes, are very desirable. Many other factors can make a home feel dated.

         How long has it been since you painted? Is your paint chipped at the corners ,or dingy? Painting is a relatively inexpensive way to update your home. It also makes your home smell better (especially for you smokers). What about your ceilings? Do you have cracks or old water spots (don't cover up water spots if you have an active leak...FIX IT FIRST) Time to fill in the cracks, paint the water spots with KITZ and get your ceiling in shape.

         Do you have wallpaper? Get rid of it and paint the room a neutral color.

         Do you have sculptured carpet from the 80's? A "beautiful" blue carpet? Or worse yet are all your bedrooms carpeted in different colors?  An investment in new neutral carpet can really pay off in terms of a faster sale, and it too makes your home smell fresher, and newer. Better yet you may have a hidden treasure under the carpet. You might be lucky enough to have a hardwood floor uder those old carpets...What a find!

          What do your light fixtures look like? Buyers  equate light and bright with clean. We all know nothing can substitute for clean! Lowes or Home Depot have light fixtures that give your home an updated look, and they can be relatively inexpensive.

What about your Kitchen, and Bathroom cabinets? Are they older and dated. The Kitchen and Bath are two very important rooms. Did you know you can get cabinet paint and paint your cabinets a nice white or neutral color...add some updated pulls,and voila...a whole new look.

                                               Next in the series..."the peek-a-boo house"